Combination cap and lid for condiment dispensers with sealing means for cap apertures



Filed June 28, 1948 INVENTOR. FRAN/B P DPN 132101 ATTORNEYS Aug. 14, 1951 COMBINATION CAP AND LID FOR coNDINENT DIsPENsERs WITH sEALING MEANS FOR CAP APERIURES Mv. NVV@ Patented Aug. 14V,` 1951 COMBINATION CAP ANDv LID FOR CONDI- MENT DISPENSERS WITH SEALING MEANS FOR CAP APERTURES Frank P. Danell, Benavides, Tex. Application June 2s, 194s, serial No. 35,695

This invention relates to condiment dispensers such as containers for salt, pepper, spices and other condiments, and more particularly to a cover for a container. This application is \a continuation-in-part of my .copending application Serial No. 757,855, filed June 28, 1947 which has been abandoned.

It is characteristic of table salt that it has an afnity for moisture and when damp it will not low freely. The apertures in the caps for the customary type of salt shaker become clogged with caked salt when the salt is damp. It is one of the objects of the present invention to provide a cover adapted to seal the apertures of a salt shaker cap against the entrance of moisture.

It is a further object oi the invention so to form the cover and apertures that each aperture is individually sealed.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a supplemental seal completely surrounding the apertures further to prevent the entrance of moist air and to protect the cover against contamination thereby to form a completely sanitary closure.

Other objects will be apparent from the following description of a Ypreferred embodiment of the invention taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective vew of the cap and lid attached to a container;

Fig. 2 is a vertical section taken through the cover and container;

Fig. 3 is a section taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 4 is a bottom plan view of the lid, parts thereof being broken or in section.

In the drawings, the container, which may be formed from glass or other suitable material, is indicated at I and is provided with a threaded neck portion Il adjacent the open end thereof. Adapted to be threaded on the neck is a cap I2 from the upper surface of which project a plurality of regularly arranged cone shaped protuberances I3 and a raised circumferential sealing rim I4, the cones all lying within the peripheral rim. Each of the cones is apertured at. I5, as shown, the openings being tapered toward their upper or discharge ends. It is to be noted that the taper of the cones is greater than that of the apertures and that they converge at the upper or apical ends of the cones to provide a circular sharp edge around each aperture. The peripheral rim is likewise tapered and has converging surfaces which form a similar sharp edge. It will also be observed that the upper ends of the 8 Claims. (Cl. 222-517) Z cones and the edge of the rim all lie in a single plane.

Pivotally attached to ears I6 on the lcap is a lid I'I having a circular rib I8, shoulder I9, and button 20 on the under face thereof. 'I'hese portions also lie in the same plane and overlie the cones and rim of the cap and register with them when the lid is in closed position. A spring 2I on the pivot pin 22 cooperates with lugs 23, 23 on the cap and lid respectively to urge the lid into closing position with respect to the cap. The lid is provided with an extension 24 forming a finger or thumb piece to permit the lid to be raised to open position. Gasket 25 fits tightly in the lid and is made from a resilient material such as soft rubber or the like. If desired, a gasket 25 may be interposed between the cap and the container, depending upon the type of material from which the cap is made.

When the lid is urged to closed position by spring 2|, the gasket is interposed between the shoulder, button, and ribs of the lid on the one hand, and the apertured protuberances, as well as the peripheral rim of the cap on the other hand. The ribs register with the protuberances and the rim better to form an effective seal between the gasket 25 and the sharp edges at the tops of the apertured cones and rim I4. The soft material of the gasket tends to enter the apertures and, since the latter are tapered, any grains which have become lodged at the upper ends of the apertures will be released. The material of the gasket also removes grains adhering to the outer surfaces of the cones at the sharp edges referred to.

It will be appreciated from the foregoing description that each cone is individually sealed and that, in addition, a seal is formed peripherally of the cap by the rim having a similar sharp edge. There is obtained, in effect, a double seal so thatthe vair surrounding the cones is sealed 01T by the rim in cooperation with the gasket.

It is obvious that, while the invention has been described with respect to a container for table salt, it is equally effective to seal a, dispenser for pepper, spices and other condiments to prevent evaporation of certain volatile oils therein which would result in a loss of strength in these condiments.

While a preferred form of the invention has been illustrated and described, it is to be understood that such modications as fall within the terms of the appended claims are contemplated. The cap and lid are readily molded from plastics, and, in practice this type of material is preferred,

but it may be cast or pressed from metal Without departing from the principles of the invention.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1s:

l. A cover for a condiment dispenser comprising a cap adapted kto'be removably attached t0 the open mouth of a container, 'said cap having a plurality of cone shaped protuberances projecting from a face thereof, said protuberances having apertures extending therethrough, said cap also being provided with a raised peripheral vrim surrounding said plurality of protuberances, the sides of said protuberances and said apertures, as well as the sides of said rim, convergingto vform a sharp edge at their upper ends,=a lid Ypivotally attached to said cap and having a resilient gasket adapted to engage said protuberances and said rim to seal said cap and the apertures therein, and means for .urging said '.lid and gasket into sealing relation with said protuberances yand said rim,

'2. A coveras claimed in claim 1 in'which all 'of said sharpedges lie in Va .single plane.

3. A cover-feria condimentffdispenser comprising a cap adapted to be removably attached to :the openrnouth of a container, said caphaving a plurality of cone shaped. protuberanc'es projecting from a face thereof, said 'protuberances having apertures extending therethrough, a lid pivotally attached to said capand having projections reg'- 'istering with said protub'erances when said lid is closed, a resilient gasket in said lid and interposed loetv/een said projectionsand said protuber- I ances to seal the apertures therein, and means for urging said 'lid' and gasket into sealing relaltion with said protuberanc'es.

4. A cover for a condimentwdispenser comprising a cap adapted Vto be removably :attached to Vthe open 'mouth of a container, vsaid cap having a plurality of cone shaped protuberances projecting from a face thereof,said'protuberances having apertures extending therethrough, said cap also being provided with a'raised peripheral rim vsurrounding said plurality of protuberances, a'lid pivotally attached to said cap and' having projections registering With'said protuberances and said rim When saidflidl is closed, a resilient gasket in said lid and interposed -betvveen said projections and said protuberances and rim to seal said cap and the apertures therein, and'means for urging said l'id'and gasket int'o'sealin'g relation With said protuberances andv said rim.

5. A cover for a condiment dispenser compris- `ing a cap-adapted to be removably attachedito'the open mouth of a container, said' caphaving a plurality of cone shaped protuberances projecting from a face thereof, said protuberan'ces having apertures extending therethrough, the sides of said protuberances andv said apertures converging to form a sharp edge at the apical end of each of said protuberances, a lid pivotally attached to said cap and having projections registering with said protuberances when said lid is closed, a resilient gasket in said lid and interposed between said projections and said protuberances to seal the apertures therein, and means for urging said lid and gasket `into sealing relation with said protuberances.

6. A cover as claimed in claim 5 in which all of said sharp edges lie in a single plane and the faces of said projections Alie in another single plane.

"7. -A cover for a condiment dispenser comprisingfa cap adapted to be removably attached to the open mouth of a container, said cap having a plurality yoi cone shaped protuberances projecting irom'a face thereof, said protuberances having apertures extending therethrough, said cap also being provided with a raised peripheral rim surrounding said plurality of protuberances, the sides roi said protuberancesand vsaid apertures, :as Well as the sides fof said rirrnconverging toform :a ysharpl edge attheir upper-ends, a lid 'pivotally-attached to said cap'and having projections registering with said protuberances and said frim when said lid is closed, 'a resilientgasket infsaid lid and interposed `h-etvveensaid"projections :and

.said protuberancesand rim to seal'said cap and the apertures therein,andfmeans for urging-said lid and gasket into sealing relation 4with said .protuberances and said rim.

y8. -A cover as claimed in claim '7 in'vvhich all zof said sharp'edges lie inra single planey andthe faces of said projections lie in Vanother Ysingle Number Name Date' 211,227 Grossman Jfanjl, '1879 609,468 Sali'gnac April 2'3, Y1898 700,742 Croft May 27, 1902 743,626 Duffle 'Nov. i10, -'1903 813,649 Jones Feb. 27, 1906 941,992v Jenkins Nov,30', 11909 1,213,500 Kendall J'an. 23, `19"].1'7 1,264,499 Gibbons April30,1918 1,509,431 Ittner fS'ept. 23, '1.924 1,815,319 Lawrence July T21, .1931 2,129,875 Romati et al. Sept. 13, 1938 2,342,932 Frarrr et alr Feb.l29, `17944 2,362,905 Kuhlman Nov. '14', 1944 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date' '631,747 France Sept. 20, 1927 

